Carl Emmanuel, Duke of Sabaudia 1641

Editor: Here we have Giacomo Lauro's engraving of Carl Emmanuel, Duke of Sabaudia. It's a tiny thing, really, but there's so much ornate detail packed in. What strikes you most about it? Curator: It's like a miniature stage, isn't it? The Duke, framed by swirling text and heraldic symbols, seems to be presenting himself to the world. The crisp lines and formal pose suggest a man keen on projecting power and lineage. Do you get a sense of that deliberate construction, too? Editor: Definitely. It's like every element is carefully chosen to build a certain image. It makes me wonder what he was really like. Curator: Ah, that's the magic of portraiture, isn't it? The slippage between the presented self and the real person. It invites us to imagine beyond the surface. Editor: Thanks. It really opens up a new way to see the portrait.